Multiple unit tank car



DeC- 5, 1933. v. WILLOUGHBY MULTIPLE UNIT TANK CAR Filed Feb. 24, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet Dec. 5, 1933. v WILLQUGHBY 1,937,617

MULTIPLE UNIT TANK CAR Filed Feb. 24, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tyr- Patented Dee. 5, 1925s-l UNITED stares PATENT. foss-ice MULTIPLE NIT TANK'CAR vietorwiiieughby, Ridgewood, N. J., assigner to'A American Car and Foundry Company, New 'Y York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey` j Application February 24, 1932. Serial No. 594,825

24 claims. (o1. 10s-esoy l This invention relates to vrncltiple unit tank cars and with regard to certain more specific features thereof tov cars adapted tov support rows of transversely arranged tanks such as are ordinarily used for the transportation of fluids.

The invention has for one ci its objects to provide an inexpensive and sturdy underfraine and superstructure vadapted to support tanks horizcntally arranged transversely of the ear in rows, one over the other, and Ato further provide seating and securing means for the tanks whereby each tank is spaced from adjacent tanks and can be conveniently reached and handled in the operations or" loading or unloading the tanks on or from the car.

Another objectfof the invention is in the pro` vision of a strong and well balanced superstructure combined with seating means for an upper row of tanks, which seating means, though movable to facilitate loading and unloading of tanks of a lower row on or from the car, is nevertheless riffid in the performance of the seating function.

A further object of the invention is to provide anchoring means for the seated or cradled tanksv which are quickly and conveniently operable to engage the chimes of the tanks `and to wedge each tank firmly against its seat or seatswhereby all of the tanks ofv each row are securely held against lateral or longitudinal shifting and against rolling movement and the tanks of the upper row are not dependent for theirsupport or seat on the tanks of the lower row.

'Still another object according to oneembodiment of the invention is to d include the hand rail of tank cars as a part of the frame superstructure in such manner that it may function in the mounting of the movable seats for the'l vments and arrangements of parts lwhich will be' r exemplified by the construction hereinafterv set forth and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein are kshown three of various possible embodiments oi the invention: v

Figure l is a view in side elevation of part of a multi-unit tank car embodying the invention. At the left-hand end of the iigurethe side structure is broken away to show vmore clearly, the Amanner of seating the tanks of. the lower row.

4`15. -flil'ielatter comprises pressed connections 16 Y side sills 1,4."` and the end sills to locate and sup` Fig. 2 is a YView in cross section taken sub.-V stantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, thesection, however, including only a portionof they first tank of the lower` row, in order that the seating structrue may beV more apparent in the illustra'- 60 tion. i i

Fig.V 3 is'a fragmentary View in `cross section taken s'ubstantiallyon the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig; 4 is a View in side elevation of seating and securing means 'fortanks of the upper' row ac- 65 cording to amodied form of the invention.

Figj is a view in crosssection takeny on "the lmet-saftige.- j Y Fig. 6 is a viewin side elevation of seating and securing meansfor tanksoi'thev uppers-row ac- 70 cording to another modification of the invention, and' n Fig. 7 is a view .in cross section'takenon the line-"7 7 of Fig. 6. f

In carrying out the *invention according to 75 the'embodiment illustrated by Figs. 1 to` 3, in-fr elusive, of the drawings, an underframe g is provided comprising the center sill `10 formed by.v spaced ychannels 11 connected by a top web plate 12; The center'sill isfsuitably connected 'at 80 either end to end Ysills 13 which in turn connect y 4with Vside sills 14 extending 'on opposite sides of the car from each en'd sill to and beyond a bolster suitably securedat their inner endsV to the chan- 85 ,nels l1 and at their outer ends to the side sills i 44. Cross bearers 17 preferably of pressed steel vextend outwardly' from the lcenter sill and in' clude angle Ibrackets 18 'which serve withl the portY a-running board 2U extending continuously varoundthe car. The-ear is provided with a iioor '21, preferably ofsteel plate, secured to the'center sill as indicatedV4 at 22 and supported by the transverse 95.

Vmerncersreferred to comprising the bolsters and cross bearers and secured along its outer margin 'to 'lon'gitudinal'angle' members23 and-to the end at the top to the inner side vof the angle mem-A ber 24 and its Vflange 27 riveted at the bottom tothe outer side ofy angle vmember if 110 The brace extends diagonally outward at either side as Vindicated at 38 to a point of connection 39 with the angle members 240i the oppositeA side trusses. Side and end hand-rails are indicated at 40 and 4l, respectively, the side handrails being supported by brackets e2 riveted to the longitudinal angle members 24 and the end hand-rails being suitably supported by posts 43 on brackets 44 connected to the lower chords 23V of the truss frames as shown in Fig. 1.

Anchors 5f) are associated with theY lower chords 23 ofthe truss frames and comprise angle bars. 51 riveted to the members 23y and having mounted thereon clamping device 52 operated by lbolts 53 and lnuts 54 to engage the inner surfaces of the chime 55 atthe end of tank 56 of the .lower row to bear against different portions of l said chime and exert a wedging act-ion on the tank,urging it toward the oppositely disposed seat portions 57 and 58y provided by adjacent seats 30. In practice it hasbeen found desir'- able to" arrange the inwardly projecting legs of the angle members 23 to engage the seated tank at its ends so vthat the clamping vand wedging action of the anchor means on the tank rchimes may bind the ytank against the inwardly projecting legs of the angle members. Spaced along the upper chords y24 of the side truss frames are brackets 60, preferably castings, formed'to iit over the angle member 2e and be riveted thereto-r as indicated at 61 (see Fig. 1).v The castings are provided with spaced ears 62s to receive hinge pinsor pivots 63 by which movable tank seats 64 are pivotally connectedfor swinging movement fromlthe dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 to the full line position shown in thev same figure where 4inner faces 65y of ther seat members arebroughtto bear against flanges 27 'of up standing Z-bars 25. f

Each seat casting 6,4 is formed seating portions 66 and 67 intowhich portions of adjacent tanks vare adapted to seat. Obvi-' -Iously, the seat castings at `either' end .of the car need have but one seating portion.; The seat castings are further provided with upstanding lugs 63k and 69 each of `which is provided with a threaded bolt 70 having a tapered'end71.

- The arrangement of thelugs is such that as the `bolts are turned .up through the threaded lugs the tapered ends engage the inner edges 72 of the chimesl of adjacent tanks and urge the tanks by wedging action toward their lrespective seats. Y

It will be apparent that the present invention' comprises a car frame to which a supere structure is secured; the latter comprising oppositely arranged truss frames which define a lading zone therebetween for receiving tanks, the truss framesbeing connectedby bracesY 37 securedto tanky seats 30 which latter, in effect,

kform a partrof the superstructure.

`By the described arrangement of seating and anchoring means for the upper row of tanks withdrawal of the tanks Vispermitted when vthe anchor bolts Aare unscrewed. After the upper embodiment.

with arcuate I tanks have been withdrawn the seating means 'may be swung transversely on theirV longitudinal pivots to ciear the space between the side trusses for removal of the tanks of the lower row. The tank seats 64 when in tank supporting position project into the lading Zone of the car but they lare pivctally mounted so that they may be swung on their pivots out of said lading zone tcpermit removal of the lower tanks; this,

of course, subsequent to the removal of the upper tanks from the car. Y

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings the underframe isv substantially as described in connection with the showingfin Figs. 1 to 3.; The superstructure of the frame, however, is modified to the extent of extending the side hand-rails ll() through bracketsSO which are in other respects similar to the brackets 60. InA this embodiment the 'pivot pins 63 may be eliminated and the hand-rail 40 may serve as the hinge Vpin or pivot, either directly or through a fixed sleeve 81, for a seating member 82 otherwise similar to the seating memberv 64.

Y In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 6and,7 of the drawingsthe frame, comprising the underframe .and superstructure, is

substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, but the seating. members and anchor devices r.for the upper row of tanks are modified by employing a bracket 90 having ears 91 and a hinge pin or pivot 92 which pivotally mounts a seating member 93 having seating portions V9e which engage oppositesides of the same tank at the ends thereof, rather than the ysides of adjacent tanks as in the previously described The. anchorage', device is modified to have. spaced tapered end bolts 95 alsoY threaded through lugs 96 to engage with different portions of the inner edge of the tank chime rather than with edges of` adjacent tank chimes as in the embodiment previously described. The manner of swinging the seating members 93 into and out of seating position is substantially the same as in theother formsy of the invention." It

`will be Anoted. also that the seating member 93 when swung into seating positionV bears against theanges 27A of Z-bars 25 inthe previously described embodiment.

The carie` intended for use'particularly witha multiplicity of small tank unitswhich arecustomarily transferredto an auto truck for final transportation.' The ease of manipulation 'of the anchoring devices and the .movable seatsrenders it well suited to this system of delivery. As the upper row of tanks is supported by the truss frames, which also serve in the'support ofthe lower row, the load is` distributed rather than beingu highly concentratedvon the center sill.

What is claimed is: Y 1. In a multi-unit tank car,y a framemeans on said frame adapted tol support a row of transversely extending tanks, means pivotedlongitudinally on said frame adapted to` cradle a row of vtransversely extending tanks above the first row and Vindependently thereof.

2. InA a multi-unit tank car, an underframe having side and center sills and a superstructure cc'nnprising a plurality of struts rising upwardly from the underframe at either' side-of the car, longitudinal members connected to the upper ends of the'struts, means for seating a rowo-f tanks on the center sill, and vseatsmounted on said longitudinal members for a row of transversely extending tanks spaced above the tanks of the first said row.

isc

ist

ported by said underframe, and a plurality of sets v ofgtank end seats pivoted longitudinally on said superstructure at opposite sides so as to seat a row of Atanks spaced above the first said row and also be Withdrawn from seating position.

4.In a multi-unit tank car, an underframe, means thereon for supporting a row of transversely Vextending tanks, a superstructure supported by said underframe, and a plurality of sets of tank end seats movably mounted on said superstructure at opposite sides so as to seat a row of tanks spaced above the nrst said row and also be Withdrawn from seating position, each set of seats comprising opposite side members pivoted longitudinally on the superstructure and having seating portions for engagement with the sides of adjacent tanks at their end regions.y

' 5. In a multi-unit tank car, an underframe,

means thereon for supporting arow of transversely extending tanks, a superstructure supported by said underframe, andy a pluralityl of sets of tank end seats Vmovably mounted on said superstructure at opposite sides so as yto seat a row of tanks spaced above the first said row and also be Withdrawn fromV seating position, each set of seats comprising opposite side members pivoted longitudinally on the superstructure'.

6. In a Amulti-unit tank car, an underframe,

means thereon for supporting a ro-W of transV versely extending tanks, a superstructure supported by said underframe, and a plurality of sets of tank end seats movably mounted on said superstructure at opposite sides so as to seat a row of tanks spaced'above the iirst said row and also be Withdrawn from seating position, said ,4.0.. superstructure comprising a hand rail, and each` set of seats comprising opposite side members pivotally movable around said hand rail.

7. In a multi-unit tank car, an underframe,

means thereon for supporting a row of transy versely extending tanks, a superstructure supported by said underframe, anda plurality ofsets of tank end seats movably mounted on said superstructure at opposite sides so as to seat a row of tanks spaced above the rst said row'andl also be Withdrawn from seating position, each set or"v seats comprising opposite side members pivoted to the superstructure to swing inwardly toward each other, and means for anchoring the tanks in seated position.

9. In a multi-unit tank car, an underframe, means thereon for supporting a row of .transversely extending tanks, a truss frame supported by said underframe at each rside thereof, and a plurality of sets of tank end seats pivotally con'- nected to said truss frames in such a manner as to seat a row of tanks spaced above the rst said rovi and also be withdrawn from seating position, each set of seats comprising opposite side members having seating portions for engagement With the sides of adjacent tanks at their end regions,

t to Wedgingly secure and means for anchoring the tanks -in seated position. f1 u 1.

10. In a multi-unit tank car, an underframe,

means thereon for `supporting a row of transf versely extending' tanks, truss Yframes supported by'said underframe at opposite sides thereonand a plurality of sets ottank end seats pivotally connected to said truss frames so as to seatfa row of tanks spaced above the Iirst said row and alsobe Withdrawn from seating position, 'and tapered-end bolts carried by the seats adapted certain of the tanks in seated position. Y Y `Y y' 11. In a multi-unit'tank car, an 'underframa means thereon for supporting a rowof trans,- versely extending tanks, a superstructure supported by said underframe, anda plurality of sets of tank end seats movably mounted on said ,superstructure at opposite sides to swing transversely so as to seat a row of tanks spaced above the iirst said row and also be withdrawnfrom vseating position, each set of seats comprising for 'transversely vextending chimed tanks and j means for holding the tankssecurely against the seats comprising bolts adjustably mounted in said tank seat elements for movement' toward and from thev tanks and havingv tapered ends l which act on the chimes of the tanks to Wedge the tanks toward the seats.

13. In a multi-unit tankcar, tank seat elements for transversely `emtending chimed tanks, bolt supports on the tank seat elements, and means for holding the tanks securely against the seats comprising pairs of tapered-end bolts adjustable in said supports for movement toward and from the tanks and arranged so that the tapered ends respectively co-act Withv the chimes of adjacent tanks to Wedge them toward their seats.

14. In a multi-unit tank car, tank seat elements `for' transversely extending chirned tanks, said elements having boltsupports and means for holding the tanks securely against the seats comprising pairsv of tapered-end bolts threaded' in said supports for movement toward and from a tank and arranged so that the tapered ends coact respectively with spaced portions of the tank chime to Wedge the tank toward its seat.

15. In a multi-unit tank car, a frame, means on said `fratrie adapted to support a roW of transversely extending tanks, means longitudinally pivotally mounted on saidfframe adapted to cradle a row of transversely extending tanks above the iirst said roW and independently thereof, and means for securing the tanks A,of both roWs in supported and `cradled. position.

16. In a multi-unit'tank car, a frame comprising an underframe having side and center sills and a superstructure comprising upWarding extending struts vat either. side and longitudinal members connected to the upper ends of the struts and extending substantially the length of the car, means on thev center sill for cradling a row yof tanks, seats mounted on said longitudinal members for a row offtransversely extending tanks spaced above the tanks of the first said row, and

tank securing means adapted to engage the ends l Y Y connected to the seat members and extending transversely to a connection with the upperlon-Y gitudinal members, infcombination with means supported by said superstructure for seating an upper row of tanks. i e v k18. In a car construction, va truss frame constituting one side of the lading zone of the car and comprising an upper member, and tank seats pivotally connected to said upper member.

19, In a car construction, a truss frame con-r stituting one side of the lading Zone of the car e and comprising an upper member, and tank seats pivotally connected to said upper member in such a manner as to be capable of pivotal movement into and out of 'the lading zone. f Y

20. In a railway car, spaced rigid frames dening the lading Zone of the car therebetween, and tank seats pivotally secured to the upper portions of said frames and normally extending into the lading zone of the car. 1 l e 2l. In a railway car, spaced rigid frames' dening the lading Zone of the car therebetween, and tank seats lpivotally secured to tne upper portions of said frames in such a manner as to be shiftable on their pivots into and out yof the lading Zone of the car.

22. In a `railwaycar, an underfranie, and Ya superstructure thereon for supporting tanks comprising oppositely arranged frame rnembers,r means including tank seats arranged adjacent the longitudinal center lineof the car connecting said Vframe members, and tank seats pivotally secured to the upper portions `of the frame memsaid frame members, tank seats supported on the underframe `adjacent the longitudinal ycenter line of the car for supporting aflower row of tanks, and tank seats pivotally secured to the upper portions of tne frame members and adaptedv to `extend into the lading zone of the car for supporting anV upper row of tanks, said second named tank seats being so pivoted as to be swungoutside of the lading zone.

' 24.`In a railway ca ing the lading zone o the car therebetween and each including rigid members extending longitudinally of tile car, and tank seats pivotally secured Ato the rigid members in such a manner as to Je shiitabie into and' out of the lading Zone.

Vieron WILLQUGHBY.

r, spaced truss frames defin loo 

